scholarly journals Influence of fluids on VP/VS ratio: increase or decrease?

2018 ◽  
Vol 216 (3) ◽  
pp. 2037-2043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Brantut ◽  
Emmanuel C David

SUMMARY The evolution of the ratio between P- and S-wave velocities (VP/VS) with increasing fluid-saturated porosity is computed for isotropic rocks containing spheroidal pores. The ratio VP/VS is shown to either decrease or increase with increasing porosity, depending on the aspect ratio α of the pores, fluid to solid bulk modulus ratio ζ and Poisson’s ratio ν0 of the solid constituents of the rock. A critical initial Poisson’s ratio ν0, crit is computed, separating cases where VP/VS increases (if ν0 < ν0, crit) or decreases (if ν0 > ν0, crit) with increasing porosity. For thin cracks and highly compressible fluids, ν0, crit is approximated by $0.157\, \zeta /\alpha$, whereas for spherical pores ν0, crit is given by 0.2 + 0.8ζ. When ν0 is close to ν0, crit, the evolution of VP/VS with increasing fluid-saturated porosity is near neutral and depends on subtle changes in pore shape and fluid properties. This regime is found to be relevant to partially dehydrated serpentinites in subduction zones (porosity of aspect ratio near 0.1 and ζ in the range 0.01–0.1), and makes detection of these rocks and possibly elevated fluid pressures difficult from VP/VS only.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rupeng Ma ◽  
Jing Ba ◽  
José Carcione ◽  
Maxim Lebedev ◽  
Changsheng Wang

The petrophysical properties can be proper indicators to identify oil and gas reservoirs, since the pore fluids have significant effects on the wave response. We have performed ultrasonic measurements on two sets of tight siltstones and dolomites at partial saturation. P- and S-wave velocities are obtained by the pulse transmission technique, while attenuation is calculated using the centroid-frequency shift and spectral-ratio methods. The fluid sensitivities of different properties (i.e., P- and S-wave velocities, impedances and attenuation, Poisson's ratio, density, and their combinations) are quantitatively analyzed by considering the data distribution, based on the crossplot technique. The result shows that the properties (P- to S-wave velocity and attenuation ratios, Poisson's ratio, and first to second Lamé constant ratio) with high fluid-sensitivity indicators successfully distinguish gas from oil and water, unlike oil from water. Moreover, siltstones and dolomites can be identified on the basis of data distribution areas. Ultrasonic rock-physics templates of the P- to S-wave velocity ratio vs. the product of first Lamé constant with density obtained with a poroelastic model, considering the structural heterogeneity and patchy saturation, are used to predict the saturation and porosity, which are in good agreement with the experimental data at different porosity ranges.


1981 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 1863-1874
Author(s):  
Alan R. Levander ◽  
Robert L. Kovach

Abstract We have examined S-wave arrivals from local earthquakes at a three-station seismograph array in the Franciscan terrane of the Diablo Range, California. A single crustal S-wave phase is observed with a velocity of 3.30 km/sec. Poisson's ratio calculated for the crust from a composite Wadati diagram is 0.27. Beyond epicentral distances of 90 km we have tentatively identified an Sn phase with a velocity of 4.35 km/sec. Other investigators have reported a Pn velocity of 8.0 km/sec corresponding to an upper mantle Poisson's ratio of 0.29. The 3.30 km/sec crustal S-wave velocity is intermediate in value between crustal S-wave velocities measured in similar terranes 75 km north at Berkeley and 90 km south at Bear Valley, suggesting a NW-SE crustal S-wave velocity gradient east of the San Andreas fault in the Franciscan terrane. This may be indicative of an increase in crustal rigidity from southeast to northwest, possibly associated with the differing levels of seismic activity observed along portions of the San Andreas fault.


Geophysics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 559-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ran Bachrach ◽  
Jack Dvorkin ◽  
Amos M. Nur

We determined P- and S-wave velocity depth profiles in shallow, unconsolidated beach sand by analyzing three‐component surface seismic data. P- and S-wave velocity profiles were calculated from traveltime measurements of vertical and tangential component seismograms, respectively. The results reveal two discrepancies between theory and data. Whereas both velocities were found to be proportional to the pressure raised to the power of 1/6, as predicted by the Hertz‐Mindlin contact theory, the actual values of the velocities are less than half of those calculated from this theory. We attribute this discrepancy to the angularity of the sand grains. Assuming that the average radii of curvature at the grain contacts are smaller than the average radii of the grains, we modify the Hertz‐Mindlin theory accordingly. We found that the ratio of the contact radius to the grain radius is about 0.086. The second disparity is between the observed Poisson’s ratio of 0.15 and the theoretical value (0.008 for random pack of quartz spheres). This discrepancy can be reconciled by assuming slip at the grain contacts. Because slip decreases the shearing between grains, Poisson’s ratio increases.


Geophysics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. T209-T234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing-Bo Chen ◽  
Jian Cao

Because of its high computational cost, we needed to develop an efficient numerical scheme for the frequency-domain 3D elastic wave equation. In addition, the numerical scheme should be applicable to media with a liquid-solid interface. To address these two issues, we have developed a new average-derivative optimal 27-point scheme with arbitrary directional grid intervals and a corresponding numerical dispersion analysis for the frequency-domain 3D elastic wave equation. The novelty of this scheme is that its optimal coefficients depend on the ratio of the directional grid intervals and Poisson’s ratio. In this way, this scheme can be applied to media with a liquid-solid interface and a computational grid with arbitrary directional grid intervals. For media with a variable Poisson’s ratio, we have developed an effective and stable interpolation method for optimization coefficients. Compared with the classic 19-point scheme, this new scheme reduces the required number of grid points per wavelength for equal and unequal directional grid intervals. The reduction of the number of grid points increases as the Poisson’s ratio becomes larger. In particular, the numerical S-wave phase velocity of this new scheme becomes zero, whereas the classic 19-point scheme produces a spurious numerical S-wave phase velocity, as Poisson’s ratio reaches 0.5. We have performed numerical examples to develop the theoretical analysis.


2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 943-962 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Ramachandran ◽  
R. D. Hyndman

Abstract. Large amounts of water carried down in subduction zones are driven upward into the overlying forearc upper mantle and crust as increasing temperature and pressure dehydrate the subducting crust. Through seismic tomography velocities we show that, (a) the overlying forearc mantle in Northern Cascadia is hydrated to serpentinite, and (b) the low Poisson's ratio at the base of the forearc lower crust that may represent silica deposited from the rising fluids. From the velocities observed in the forearc mantle, the volume of serpentinite estimated is ~30 %. This mechanically weak hydrated forearc region has important consequences in limits to great earthquakes and to collision tectonics. An approximately 10 km thick lower crustal layer of low Poisson's ratio (σ = 0.22) in the forearc is estimated to represent a maximum addition of ~14 % by volume of quartz (σ = 0.09). If this quartz is removed from rising silica-saturated fluids over long times it represents a significant addition of silica to the continental crust and an important contributor to its average composition.


2004 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 130-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iwao Takei ◽  
Norikazu Maeno

AbstractMechanical properties of snow were investigated by means of a vibration response technique in a frequency range from 10Hz to 1MHz and a temperature range from –15° to –0.1°C with heating and cooling processes. The response signals were divided into two kinds of propagation, transverse and longitudinal waves through the snow sample. The temperature dependence of elastic-wave velocities showed a large decrease above –0.6°C. Poisson’s ratio and Young’s modulus of snow samples were derived from the longitudinal and transverse wave velocities. Poisson’s ratio of snow samples showed a value of 0.35 ± 0.01 below –0.6°C, and dropped to 0.29 or less at –0.1°C. Young’s modulus of snow samples at –0.1°C showed values seven-tenths as large as (25–34%less than) those below –0.6°C. These phenomena suggest weakening and slipping of boundaries between ice particles in snow samples near the melting temperature. The elastic-wave velocities and Young’s modulus change with the density of samples and with time and temperature cycling. These changes are related to the number and state of bonds between ice particles in snow samples.


2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 2567-2613 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Tong ◽  
D. Zhao ◽  
D. Yang ◽  
X. Yang ◽  
J. Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract. High-resolution 3-D P and S wave crustal velocity and Poisson's ratio models of the 1992 Landers earthquake (Mw 7.3) area are determined iteratively by a wave-equation based traveltime seismic tomography (WETST) technique as developed in the first paper. The details of data selection, synthetic arrival-time determination, and trade-off analysis of damping and smoothing parameters are presented to show the performance of this new tomographic inversion method. A total of 78 523 P wave and 46 999 S wave high-quality arrival-time data from 2041 local earthquakes recorded by 275 stations during the period of 1992–2013 is used to obtain the final tomographic models which costs around 10 000 CPU h. Checkerboard resolution tests are conducted to verify the reliability of inversion results for the chosen seismic data and the wave-equation based traveltime seismic tomography method. Significant structural heterogeneities are revealed in the crust of the 1992 Lander earthquake area which may be closely related to the local seismic activities. Strong variations of velocity and Poisson's ratio exist in the source regions of the Landers and three other strong earthquakes in this area. Most seismicity occurs in areas with high-velocity and low Poisson's ratio, which may be associated with the seismogenic layer. Pronounced low-velocity anomalies revealed in the lower crust along the Elsinore, the San Jacinto and the San Andreas faults may reflect the existence of fluids in the lower crust. The recovery of these strong heterogeneous structures are facilitated by the use of full wave equation solvers and WETST and verifies their ability in generating high-resolution tomographic models.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (16) ◽  
pp. 5007
Author(s):  
Stian Rørheim ◽  
Mohammad Hossain Bhuiyan ◽  
Andreas Bauer ◽  
Pierre Rolf Cerasi

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) by geological sequestration comprises a permeable formation (reservoir) for CO2 storage topped by an impermeable formation (caprock). Time-lapse (4D) seismic is used to map CO2 movement in the subsurface: CO2 migration into the caprock might change its properties and thus impact its integrity. Simultaneous forced-oscillation and pulse-transmission measurements are combined to quantify Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio as well as P- and S-wave velocity changes in the absence and in the presence of CO2 at constant seismic and ultrasonic frequencies. This combination is the laboratory proxy to 4D seismic because rock properties are monitored over time. It also improves the understanding of frequency-dependent (dispersive) properties needed for comparing in-situ and laboratory measurements. To verify our method, Draupne Shale is monitored during three consecutive fluid exposure phases. This shale appears to be resilient to CO2 exposure as its integrity is neither compromised by notable Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio nor P- and S-wave velocity changes. No significant changes in Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio seismic dispersion are observed. This absence of notable changes in rock properties is attributed to Draupne being a calcite-poor shale resilient to acidic CO2-bearing brine that may be a suitable candidate for CCS.


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